Shifting Patterns in Ecstasy Use: Increasing Detection of MDA in Forensic Seizures and Toxicological Cases in Southern Brazil
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs June 10, 2026 Bruno Pereira Dos Santos, Vítor Camargo Pôrto, Letícia Birk et al.
In Brazil, ecstasy-type drugs are the most commonly seized synthetic drugs, and recent years have seen a shift from MDMA to its analog MDA, possibly due to changes in synthetic routes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of drug seizures in Rio Grande do Sul found MDA in 31.1% of samples, surpassing MDMA at 25.6%, with MDA detections peaking at 52.6% in 2023. Clinical and forensic cases also showed MDA predominating from 2021 onward. This higher prevalence of MDA indicates a change in ecstasy use patterns, highlighting the need for robust analytical methods and ongoing toxicological monitoring to inform drug surveillance and public health policies.